Henry clarke



(,No Model.)

, l H. 0LARKB.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Patented Feb'.l 16, 1897. Fa 6. FEG

NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HENRY CLARKE, OE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssieNoR To HENRY LovE CLARKE AND EUGENE H. CARNETT, OE sAME PLACE.

COVlBlNATiON-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,358, dated February 16, 1897.

Application filed November 6,1896. Serial No, 611,195. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may colt-cern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY CLARKE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combination-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of combination-locks, and more particularly to improvements upon the combination-lock shown and described in my pending application, Serial No. 595,342, filed June 12, 1896.

The object ot my invention is to simplify the construction of the lock and increase its proficiency by guarding against the picking of the lock and to adapt it for use as a padlock.

My invention consists, in connection with two adjacent lock-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on their common axis, each furnished with a series of holes for receiving a series of lock-pins, two series of lock-pins, the pins of the one series being longer than those of the other, of a safety ring or device provided with a series of humps or projections to prevent the movement of the lock-pins except in a certain position of the lock-disks.

It further consists, in connection with two adjacent disks adapted to turn in respect to each other on their common axis, each furnished with a hasp-arm adapted to open and close, in combination with means for locking the disks together.

It further consists, in connection with the lock-disks and series of lock-pins, of a movable setting-plate adapted to turn on the same axis as the lock-disks and furnished with a series of cams for engaging the lock-pins.

' invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan view with the dial-plate removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the spring or springs which bear against the push-buttons removed. Fig. -t is a similar view showing the spring for throwing the lock open or separating the arms of the hasp. Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views showing the meeting faces of the two lock-disks. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the lower lock-disk. Fig. 8 is a top or plan view of the settingplate. Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustrating the operation.

' In said drawings, A and A represent the two arms of the hasp; B and B', the lower and upper lock-disks, each furnished with a series of lockpin holes b, preferably ten in number.

C and C are the lock-pins, the series of longer pins being lettered C and the series of shorter pins C", all the long pins excepting those constituting the particular combination being in the upper disk and all the short pins excepting those constituting the combination being in the lower disk, so that when the particular pins of the combination alone are depressed the meeting ends of all the pins will be flush with the meeting faces of the lock-disks, thus allowing the lock-disks to turn and the lock to be opened. The upper lock-disk B has a central hub b extending through the lower lock-disk to journal the two together.

F F are the spring-disks which bear against the lock-pins C C' to hold the same in whatever position they may be pushed or set. These spring disks or plates are each furnished with radial tongues f, one for each lock-pin.

Gis the dial or cover plate, furnished with a series of index-figures g and with a series of keys or push-pins g', corresponding to and registering with the lock-pins.

H is a spring disk or plate interposed between the keys or push-pins g and the lockpins to hold the push-buttons in their normal position. This spring disk or plate His furnished with a series of tongues h, one for eacl key or push-pin, and with a series of notches h in the periphery between the tongues.

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is secured to the dial-plate G by a rivet h2, extending through the eXtra or additional tongue h3.

K is the movable setting plate or disk. lt is furnished with a central hub 7s, extending through the lock-disks B B, so that the setting-plate and lock-disks thus turn all upon the same com mon axis. This setting-plate K has an external i'lange 7a to enable it to serve as a case for the lower lock-disk to fit in. The setting disk or plate K is furnished with a series of cams 7a2, one for each of the lockspinsin the lower lock-disk. These cams k2 are in the nature of cavities having one inelined side. By the rotary movement of this setting-plate in respect to the lower disks it will be seen from Fig. 10 that the lock-pins will all be set or restored to their locking position. The arm A of the hasp is preferably formed integral with this setting plate or disk K and the other arm A of the hasp is preferably made integral with the upper lock-disk 3. The setting-plate and the lower lock-disk B are held in their normal position in relation to each other by a spring K, which fits in an annular cavity or recess Bftin the lower face of the lower lock-disk, one end of which spring bears against the lower lock-disk at K2 and the other end of which bears against the setting-plate at K3. A washer KA1 is preferably interposed between the spring K' and the spring-disk F.

M is a spring for throwing the lock or the two arms of the hasp open. It is preferably a coiled spring and inserted in au annular cavity or recess B3 in the upper face of the upper lock-disk B'. One end m of this sprin g M bears against the upper lock-disk and the other end m' is inserted in a collar m2, which is fixed in the hub 7u of the setting-plate K, the collar m2 having a fiat side m3 iitting a eorrespondin g flattened portion of the hub 7o to prevent the collar turuin g on the hub. It will thus be seen that the spring M tends to turn the upper lock-disk B and the setting plate or disk K in opposite directions, and thus to throw open the two arms A A of the hasp attached to these two disks.

N is the safety device, the function of which, in combination with the other parts, is to prevent the picking of the lock by pushing the pins down and thus determining which are the short pins or the ones forming the com bination. This safety device N consists, preferably, of a ring furnished with a series of humps or projections ln, approximating in height the upper ends of; the lock-pins inthe upper lockdisk and adapted to be engaged by the keys or push-buttons or spring H, interposed between the keys or push-pins and the lock-pins except when the upper lockdisk is turned into the particular position which brings the humps n into registry with the peripheral notches h in the spring plate -or disk Il, and at this particular point or position the locking-pins register with one another and with the cavities or cams 71; in

the setting-platc, so that all the lock-pins, those not of the combination as well as those ofthe combination, will all move alike and with equal freedom, so that it will be impossible to detect any difference between those of the combination a-nd those not of the coinbination, and when the humps 1t are out of registry with the notches 7L the humps or projections n prevent the keys or push-pins be ing depressed so as to detect which are the short lock-pins or the pins oi' the combination. The safety device or ring N is fixed in the setting-plate K and thus supported in proper relation to the other parts. It is for this purpose preferably provided with an in ternal radial arm n', furnished with an enlargement 01/2, having a fiat-sided opening n3 to iit over the flattened portion of the hub 7s of the setting plate ordisk K. The dial-plate G is 'fixed to the upper lock-disk B and is held in place by a screw or rivet G, passed through or threaded into the hollow hub 7i; of the setting-plate K. A pin or stud b2, iixed in the upper lock-disk B and fitting in a slot h3 in the lower lock-disk B, permits the necessary limited rotary movement of the two lock-disks in respect to each other to throw the lock open and the pins out of registry with each other and in the return or closing movement to cause the two lock-disks after their pins arc brought into registry with each other to move together in respect to the setting-plate and thus cause the cams of the settin g-plate to push the locklpins into their locking position.

The two arms A A of the hasp shutthc one within the other, thc arm A being provided with a socket ct to receive the end d of the arm A. This prevents the two disks to which the arms of the hasp are secured from being separated by removing the screw or rivet G.

The operation of the lock is as follows: The hasps are brought toward each other, and when the locked position is reached the pin b2 on the lock-disk B engages the end of the slot b3 in the lock-disk B. (At this point the lock-pins in each disk are in registry with one another.) The two disks B B now movetogether and in relation to the setting-plate K, which causes the cams 7a2 to push the pins so that the meeting ends of all of the pins will be flush with the meeting faces Ot' the two lock-disks except the pins forming the combination, which'will be pushed through the lower disk B and their ends entered into the holes of the disk 3 and the disks locked together. When the pressure of closing the lock is removed, the spring M throws the hasps slight-ly apart, thus causing the lock-disks to carry the lockpins over the cavities k2 in the setting-plate K and at the same time exert a lateral tension between the disks. At this lock-pins C C.

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the tension of the spring must be removed from the disks, and this is done by moving the hasps toward each other slightly, and by the engagement of the pin b2 with the slot h3 the tension of the spring is removed and at the same time the projections n on the safety device are brought into registry with the notches h' in the spring I-I as the safety device N carrying the projections n rotates with the setting-plate, owing to the connection n2 n3 between the two, said setting-plate being connected with one of the hasps. At this point all of the lock-pins may be operated by the 'push-pins g with equal freedom, and as the lateral tension on the disks is removed it will be impossible to discover which are the pins forming the combination.

While I-have described the exact form of lock shown in the drawings, it will be understood that its construction may be greatly varied without departing from my invention.

The cavities or cams 7a2 in the setting-plate K should be of such length as to prevent any of the lock-pins engaging the abrupt end walls of the cavities and thereby holding the lower disk B from rotating and causing the spring M to exert a tension between the lockdisks. It is particularly desirable to prevent this engagement when the lock-pins are not protected by the safety device N, for the reason that if the lock-pins are in a position to be operated while a tension exists between the lock-disks it is possible by very delicate manipulation to discover the pins in the combination, because their resistance to depression would be great-er than that of the pins not in the combination. In the construction shown the length of the cavities is slightly greater than the movement of the lower lockdisk.

I claiml. In a combination-lock the combination with two adjacent lock-disks, of two seriesv of lock-pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push-pins, and a safety ring or device to prevent the lock-pins being moved by the keys or push-pins except when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, substantially as specified.

2. In a combination-lock the combination with two adjacent lock-disks, of two series of lock-pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push-pins, a safety ring or device to prevent the lock-pins being moved by the keys or push-pins except when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, and furnished with a series of humps or projections, substantially as specified.

3. In a combination-lock the combination with two adjacent lock-disks, of two series of lock-pins mounted therein, a series of keys or push-pins, a safety ring or device to prevent the lock-pins being moved by the'keys or push-pins except when said safety ring or device is in a certain position, and furnished with a series of humps or projections, and a spring plate or disk interposed between the lock-pins and push-pins, and furnished with a series of notches adapted to be brought into registry with the humps or projections on the safety ring or device, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with two adjacent lockdisks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lockpins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, substantially as specitied.

5. Thecombination withtwoadjacentlockdisks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lockpins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, said settingplate having a series of cams or cavities with inclined sides, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with two adjacent lockdisks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lockpins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, said settingplate having a series of cams or cavities with inclined sides, and said setting-plate having a central hub extending through the lockdisks, substantially as specified.

'7. The combination with two adjacent lockdisks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lockpins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, said settingplate having a series of cams or cavities with inclined sides, and said setting-plate having a central hub extending through the lockdisks, andr an external flange to form a case to receive the lower lock-disk, substantially,

as specified.

S. The combination with two disks turning on a common axis and each furnished witha hasp-arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of keys or push pins, a spring H having notches h', and a safety ring or device N having humps or projections n, substantially as specified.

9. The combination with two disks turning on a common axis and each furnished with a hasp-arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of keys or push-pins, a spring H having notches h', and a safety ring or device N having humps or projections n, said safety-ring N being connected with the setting-plate and adapted to turn therewith in respect to the lock-disks, substantially as specified.

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l0. The combin ation with two disks turning on a common axis and each furnished with a hasp-arm, with means for locking the disks together, a series of keys or push-pins, a spring Il having notches 7L', and a safety ring or device N having humps or projections n, said safety ring or device having an internal arm n attached to the hub of the setting plate, substantially as specified.

1l.. The combination with two adjacent lock-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series ot' lock-pins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series beinglonger than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, and opening and closing hasp-arms secured to two of said disks, substantially as specified.

12. The combination with two adjacent lock-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock-pins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disks, opening and closing hasp-arms secured to two of said disks, and a spring for opening the lock or the arms of hasp, substantially as specitied.

13. The combination with two adjacent lock-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock-pins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, said setting-plate having a series of cams or cavities with inclined sides, and a spring for opening the lock or tu rnin g the setting-plate in respect to the lock-disk, substantially as specified.

14. The combination with two adjacent lock-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock-pins mounted in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disk, and a spring connection between the setting-plate disk and the lower lock-disk, permitting a limited movement of the one in respect to the other, substantially as specified.

15. The combination with two adjacent loek-disks, one adapted to turn in respect to the other on a common axis, of two series of lock-pins mount-ed in holes in said disks, the pins in the one series being longer than those in the other, and part of each series being in each disk, and a setting plate or disk turning upon the same axis as the lock-disks, said setting-plate having a series of cams or cavities of length adapted to prevent engagement between their abrupt end walls and the lockpins, substantially as specified.

1G. In a combination-lock, the combination with two adjacent lock-disks, of two series of lock-pins mounted therein, a safety device preventing the pins being moved when the safety device is in its acting position, and a setting-plate having a series of cams or cavities adapted to prevent engagement between their abrupt end walls and the pins, substantially as specified.

HENRY CLARKE. lVituesses:

L. E. CURTIS, Enw. S. EvARTs. 

